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Pick a topic to practise it. Your accuracy on each topic is shown below.
Two short sets per topic — between them they cover every question in the bank. Answer them all, then check.
1 / 1
Mock papers 1 and 2 follow the real question paper: 50 marks in 1 hour 30 minutes, with Section 1 (10 marks) based on a case study and Section 2 (40 marks). You write each answer, then mark it yourself against the marking points. The quick papers are auto-marked and different every time.
Before you start
- Match the command word. Describe = detailed points · Explain = give reasons/consequences · Compare = both things side by side · Discuss = advantages and disadvantages · Justify = reasons for a choice.
- One mark per developed point. A 4-mark question needs at least four different points.
- Watch the clock. 50 marks in 90 minutes is under 2 minutes per mark.
- Case study questions: write the problem, then its solution underneath. Don't repeat the same solution.
- Mark yourself honestly. Only tick a point if your answer makes it clearly.
Paper 1
Self-marked
90:00
Marks: 0
A
Grade A
Grade boundaries here are SQA's notional ones (A 70%, B 60%, C 50%, D 40%). Real boundaries move each year and your final grade combines the question paper (50 marks) and the assignment (70 marks).
Answer review
How many can you get right?
Quick-fire questions against the clock. Great for drilling key terms, legislation and spreadsheet functions.
60
Score 0
Time's up
The key facts on one page. Items marked Assignment are skills you use in the practical assignment (70 marks); the rest is question paper theory (50 marks).
The course at a glance
Question paper
50 marks · 1 hour 30 minutes · 42% of the courseSection 1: 10 marks on a case study · Section 2: 40 marks · questions worth 1–6 marks
Assignment Assignment
70 marks · one 2-hour block · 58% of the courseSpreadsheet 20 · Database 20 · Word processing 20 (each ±4) · Communication 10 (±2)
Command words
Describe: detailed points · Explain: reasons/consequences · Compare: both, like-for-like · Discuss: pros and cons · Justify: reasons for a choice · Outline: brief pointsTime, tasks & teams
Management skills
Planning · Organising · Directing · Controlling · DelegatingSMART targets
Specific · Measurable · Achievable · Realistic · Time-boundPlanning tools
To-do list · priorities list · action plan (who, what, when, resources) · Gantt chart (tasks against a timeline) · e-diary · PDPMonitoring progress
Meetings · accessing files · buddy system · Gantt chartsTuckman
Forming → Storming → Norming → PerformingBelbin's 9 roles
Plant · Resource Investigator · Co-ordinator · Shaper · Monitor Evaluator · Teamworker · Implementer · Completer Finisher · SpecialistEffective teams
Size · shared goals · leadership · interdependency · time together · positive environment · attitude to riskLegislation
Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974
Employer: safe premises, equipment, systems, training · Employee: reasonable care, co-operate, don't misuse safety equipmentFirst-Aid Regs 1981
Adequate equipment, facilities and trained people; tell staff the arrangementsWorkplace Regs 1992
Temperature (16°C, or 13°C for physical work) · ventilation · lighting · space (11 m³) · toilets · drinking water · rest areasDSE Regs 1992
Workstation assessment · minimum standards · breaks · free eye tests on request · trainingFire Precautions Regs 1999
Fire risk assessment · detection · extinguishers · clear exits · training and drills (in Scotland now under the Fire (Scotland) Act 2005)UK GDPR & Data Protection Act 2018
Lawful/fair/transparent · purpose limitation · minimisation · accuracy · storage limitation · security · accountability. ICO regulates. Subject access: 1 month.Computer Misuse Act 1990
Unauthorised access · …with intent to commit further offences · unauthorised acts to impair (viruses, deleting data)Freedom of Information Act 2000
Request information from public authorities; reply in 20 working days. Scottish bodies: FOI (Scotland) Act 2002.Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988
Automatic protection of original work; need permission/licence; literary works life + 70 yearsCustomer care, meetings & communication
Customer care policy
Mission statement · vision statement · service standards · complaints procedureMonitoring customer care
Loyalty schemes · desk/field research · surveys · focus groups · mystery shoppers · suggestion schemes · websites & forumsAgenda order
Apologies · minutes of last meeting · matters arising · main items · AOCB · date of next meetingMeeting documents
Notice of meeting · agenda · chairperson's agenda · minutes · action minutes · evaluation formFile management
Naming conventions · version control · restricted access · location · housekeeping · backupsBarriers to communication
Jargon · noise · language · poor layout · wrong method · overload · technical failureSpreadsheet functions
Counting Assignment
=COUNT(A2:A50) numbers · =COUNTA() non-empty · =COUNTBLANK() emptyConditional Assignment
=COUNTIF(B2:B50,"Finance")=SUMIF(A2:A50,"Glasgow",D2:D50)=AVERAGEIF(range,criteria,average_range)IF and nested IF Assignment
=IF(B2>=50,"Pass","Fail")=IF(B2>25000,15%,IF(B2>=15000,10%,0%))Start with the largest band · check > vs >=
Lookups Assignment
=VLOOKUP(A2,$F$2:$H$20,3,FALSE) searches the first column=HLOOKUP(A2,$B$1:$F$3,2,FALSE) searches the top rowRounding
=ROUND(A1,2) · =ROUNDUP(A1,0) · =ROUNDDOWN(A1,1)References Assignment
$A$1 absolute (F4) · named cells =C2*VAT · 3D =SUM(Jan:Mar!B5) · other sheet =Summary!D4Features
Data validation · conditional formatting · sort (2 levels) · filter · subtotal (sort first!) · grouping · pivot tables & charts (refresh) · commentsPrinting Assignment
Formulae view (Ctrl + `) · gridlines · row & column headings · fit to 1 page · comments at end/as displayedDatabase queries
Criteria Assignment
Between 50 And 100 · >=#01/03/2027# · Not "Glasgow" · Is Null · Is Not NullWildcards
Like "M*" starts with M · Like "*son" ends with son · Like "*glas*" contains · ? one characterAND / OR
Same criteria row = AND · different rows = ORCalculated fields Assignment
Total: [Price]*[Quantity] · Balance: [Fee]-[Paid] · format as currencyTotals query
Σ Totals · Group By + Sum / Avg / Count / Max / Min · only add the tables you needReports
Report header (once) · page header · group header/footer (subtotals) · detail · page footer (page numbers) · report footer (grand total)Word processing, presentations & e-mail
Mail merge Assignment
Main document + data source + merge fields · filter/sort recipients · If…Then…Else ruleLong documents
Section breaks (orientation, headers) · Link to Previous · different first page / odd & even · TOC from heading styles · bookmarks · cross-references · footnotes/endnotes · watermarksTables & forms
Text ↔ table · =SUM(ABOVE) · sort on 2 columns · form fields + Restrict Editing (filling in forms)Linking
Paste Link = updates from the spreadsheet · embedded = static copyPresentations
Loop until Esc / kiosk · automatic timings · speaker notes · handouts (3 per page has lines) · outline · hyperlinks · slide masterE-mail & e-diary
Contact groups · rules · folders · automatic replies · signature · Bcc · recurring appointments · tasks · meeting requests0
Handy for checking spreadsheet answers, eg VAT, discounts and percentages. You can also type with your keyboard — Enter for =, Esc to clear.
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Topics
Sorted weakest first, so you know where to focus.
Timed challenge best scores
Mock exam history
Useful websites
SQA Higher Administration and ITCourse specification, specimen paper and course reports
SQA past papersPast question papers, assignments and marking instructions
Understanding StandardsMarked candidate evidence with examiner commentary
SCHOLAR (Heriot-Watt)Online course material for Scottish qualifications
Health and Safety ExecutiveHealth and safety law and real case studies
Information Commissioner's OfficeUK GDPR, data protection and freedom of information
Exam tips
- Know the command words. Describe, explain, compare, discuss and justify all need different kinds of answer.
- Compare like with like. In "compare" questions, make each point about both things.
- Use the key terms. Agenda, notice of meeting, minutes, quorum, data subject, SMART — examiners look for them.
- Gantt chart ≠ action plan. Examiners report pupils mixing these up. Know the difference.
- Nested IFs: start with the largest value and check whether you need > or >=. Use a VLOOKUP/HLOOKUP if a lookup table is given.
- Totals queries: only add the tables you actually need — extra tables change the results.
- Read every heading in an assignment spreadsheet before writing a formula, and always use cell references, never typed-in numbers.
- Type your answers if your school allows it — markers can't award marks they can't read.
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Covers the SQA Higher Administration and IT course with 387 practice questions (212 theory, 175 IT skills) over three difficulty levels, 113 flashcards, 34 worksheets and 4 mock papers. Every question has a hint and an explanation. Your progress is saved in this browser only — nothing is sent anywhere. Once loaded, the app also works offline. Not affiliated with SQA or Qualifications Scotland.